His Moonsilver Mate (Abby and Kade) novel Chapter 10

Chapter 10

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1:03 pm

Chapter 10

Abby

I had spent the entire walk to the packhouse telling myself I was ready

I had been wrong.

Voices carried from the front porch before reached the steps. I slowed.

Alpha Tiernan had arrived. Through the trees, I could see Kade standing near the entrance with Liam, Cassandra, and Sloane beside him.

I should have turned around. Instead, I stopped just beyond the light spilling from the porch.

Kade’s voice reached me clearly. “This is Sloane Sinclair. My intended chosen mate and Moonhaven’s future Luna.”

1

For one humiliating second, I forgot how to breathe.

Sloane smiled as Tiernan greeted her.

No one had seen me yet. I could still leave. Go back to Chloe’s. Pretend I had never come.

Then I remembered Aunt Cassie asking me to be here.

I stayed where I was until Tiernan and his men were already being shown inside.

Until I trusted my face again..

Then I walked in.

Now Sloane sat beside Kade at the dining table exactly where everyone expected a future Luna to sit. Cassandra

occupied Kade’s other side.

I sat beside Liam, with Alpha Tiernan across from us.

Kade watched me. Sloane rested her hand lightly against his forearm. He barely seemed to notice.

I lowered my eyes to my plate.

Dinner began with conversation about Ravenwood’s journey and the rogue activity near the borders. I stayed quiet unless someone addressed me directly.

Here, every word seemed to matter. Every movement felt visible.

Tiernan glanced toward me. “Cassandra tells me you work at the clinic.”

“I help there.”

“She undersells herself,” Aunt Cassie said.

Heat 10se into my face. “I mostly do whatever Daphne tells me.”

Tiernan smiled. “A useful survival skill around head healers.”

I relaxed a little.

“Do you intend to train formally?”

“Maybe. I’ve been thinking about it.”

“Ravenwood has a strong healer-training program. Our head healer sometimes accepts students from allied packs,”

That caught my attention. “Really?”

“For short placements, usually.”

“That sounds interesting.”

Before I could ask anything else, Sloane set down her glass.

“You should go.”

I looked at her.

She smiled. “A few weeks somewhere new might be good for you.”

Something in her tone made me cautious.

“Maybe.”

“You’ve spent your whole life in Moonhaven.”

Cassandra’s gaze shifted toward her.

Sloane continued, “There’s nothing wrong with seeing what else is out there. Some distance could be healthy.”

There it was.

Distance.

From Moonhaven.

From Kade.

From her.

Tiernan leaned back slightly. “The invitation is only for training.”

“Of course.” Sloane lifted her glass. “But sometimes a change helps people figure out where they belong.”

1:03 pm

W

I stared at her. Every word sounded reasonable. That somehow made it worse.

“I know where I belong,” I said.

Her smile held. “You’re staying with Chloe now, aren’t you?”.

Liam went still beside me.

“That’s temporary.”

“I know. I only mean that life changes.” Her gaze flicked briefly toward Kade. “People move on.”

My stomach tightened. She knew exactly what she was doing.

Sloane went on. “And stronger alliances between packs are never a bad thing.”

Liam’s chair shifted beside me. “What exactly are you suggesting?”

“Nothing inappropriate.”

“That depends on what comes next.”

Sloane’s smile tightened. “I’m only saying Ravenwood could offer Abby opportunities Moonhaven can’t.”

“If she wants them,” Liam said.

Sloane glanced at him. “Of course.”

Tiernan looked between them before turning to me. “The decision belongs to Abby. If you ever want to visit. Ravenwood for training, you would be welcome. Nothing more is attached to the invitation.”

“Thank you.”

His mouth curved. “And I promise not to reorganize your entire future over dinner.”

A few people laughed. Even I managed a small smile.

Then he looked at me again. “Though I suspect your future mate will be fortunate.”

My face warmed.

Sloane glanced toward Kade. I made the mistake of doing the same.

His hand was wrapped tightly around his knife.

Diana stirred.

He is angry.

That’s his problem.

1:03 pm

Sloane leaned back in her chair. “Perhaps Ravenwood would help Abby find him.”

The knife struck Kade’s plate with a sharp clatter.

“Abby is not leaving this pack.”

Silence fell over the table.

Sloane froze. Cassandra’s eyes narrowed. Tiernan looked from Kade to me.

I forced myself to meet Kade’s gaze. “Is that an Alpha order?”

Something changed in his face. “No.”

“Then it isn’t your decision.”

“I didn’t say it was.”

“It sounded like you did.”

His jaw tightened. “Moonhaven has its own healer program.”

“That isn’t what you meant.”

No one spoke.

The room suddenly felt too warm. Too small.

I placed my napkin beside my plate. “Excuse me.”

Liam shifted beside me. “Abby-”

“I just need some air.”

I left before anyone could stop me.

The corridor was blessedly empty. I passed the terrace doors and entered a small sitting room at the end of the hall, closing the door behind me.

My hands were shaking.

Diana paced inside me.

He doesn’t want us to go.

That doesn’t matter. He chose Sloane.

The door opened behind me. I didn’t have to turn.

“Go back to your future Luna.”

Kade closed the door. “Sloane had no right to push you out of Moonhaven.”

Ispun toward him. “She wasn’t pushing me out. She was discussing what she thinks is best for her future pack.”

“She does not decide what is best for you.”

“Neither do you.”

His jaw tightened. “I know.”

“Do you?” I folded my arms. “You rejected me because you wanted someone more prepared beside you. Tonight you introduced Sloane as your future Luna. And then you nearly broke a plate because another man talked to me.”

Kade stared at me. “He wasn’t’just talking to you.”

A bitter laugh escaped me. “That sounds like your problem.”

“It is.”

He stepped closer.

I held my ground. “You should go back.”

“I can’t sit at that table while another man talks about you finding a mate.”

“You seemed perfectly capable of sitting there while Sloane did.”

“I was trying not to cause a scene.”

“You failed.”

His mouth tightened.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Diana pressed forward. I couldn’t feel Knox through a bond anymore. But somehow I knew he was there.

Kade’s scent surrounded me. Cedar. Cold night air. Everything my body had learned to want before I understood what wanting him would cost.

His gaze moved over me. “You look beautiful.”

“Sloane is beautiful.”

I flinched.

His expression changed. “That wasn’t what I meant.”

“Don’t.”

His expression tightened. “What?”

19

1:03 pm

Don’t stand there and tell me I’m beautiful after introducing her as your future Luna.”

“I’m not trying to hurt you.”

“You keep managing it.”

Pain crossed his face.

Part of me was glad. That made me feel worse.

Kade took another step. His hand lifted, then stopped beside my face.